Automatic photographic shutter



2 N O S Dru. E K L Tl- W TH.. B

AUTOMATIG PHOTOGRAPHIG SHUTTER.

No. 573,499. Patented Deo. 22, 1896.

'me Nonnls PETERS uo. Puma-mwa. wAsmNsrom n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

PERY L. VILKERSON, OF YORK STATION, ALABAMA.

AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC SHUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,499, dated December 22, 1896.

Application filed June 25,. 1896. Serial No. 596,879. (No model-l To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, PERY L. VILKERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at York Station, in the county of Sumter and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Automatic Shutter for Cameras, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic shutters for photographic cameras; and it has for its object to provide a new and useful shutter attachment for cameras that shall provide simple and positive means for accurately and automatically giving any predetermined number of seconds exposure without the aid of a timepiece and without manual manipulation after being set.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to overcome the many objections to the pneumatic and similar shutters controlled manually, while at the same time overcoming the inaccuracies which are incident to the use of an ordinary timepiece in timing an exposure.

lVith these and other objects in view,which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an automatic shutter constructed in accordance with thisinvention and the various parts of which are set Fig. 2 is a similar view of the automatic shutter, showing the parts in the position which they 0ccupy just after the openin g of the shutter and immediately before the closing thereof by the closing tripplug. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the shutter shown attached to the lenstube of a photographic camera. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the shutter proper on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation illustrating the lock connection between the trip-dial and brake-arm.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a circular shutter box or casing provided therein with the alined eccentric ally-disposed shutter-openings 2, and at one side with an o'ifstanding attaching-collar 3, surrounding the shutter-opening at one side of the box or casin g and adapted to it over the front end of the usual lens-tube 4 of an ordinary photographic camera 5, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and said attachingcollar 3 has mounted in one side thereof a setscrew 6, adapted to impinge on the lens-tube 4 to provide for securely holding the shutter attachment in place thereon, as will be readily understood.

The circular shutter-box 1 is further provided in one side thereof directly above one of the shutter-openings 2 with a segmental slot 7, the function of which will be more particularly referred to, and the opposite sides of the box 1 have fitted centrally therein the opposite extremities of the short bearing-v spindle S, on which is mounted the rotating spring-actuated shutter-disk 9. The rotating spring-actuated shutter-disk 9 works entirely within the box 1 and is provided with an eccentrically disposed exposure opening `10, adapted to be thrown in and out of alinement with the shutter-openings 2 in opposite sides of the box, and therefore in and out of alinement with the lens carried by the lens-tube 4 of the camera.

The rotating shutter-disk 9 within the circular box 1 is provided at one side with an offstanding catch-pin 11, working in the slot '7 and havin g a play from end to end of the slot, and said disk 9 is further provided at one side 4of its center with a small windingspool 12, to which is connected one end of a strin g or other flexible connection 13, the other end of which string is connected at 14 to the free end of a leaf-spring 15, arranged entirely within the box l and secured fast at one end, as at 15a, to the inner side of the rim 1G of the shutter-box. The free end of the spring 15 has a play within the shutterbox at one side of the shutter-disk toward and away from the central pivot or bearing of such disk, and the free end of said spring exerts a normal tension outward and rotates the disk 9 in a direction that normally holds the exposure-openin g 10 therein out of alinement with the shutter-openings 2 of the shutter-box.

In the present invention the circular shutter-box 1 has suitably connected thereto at diametrically opposite points, as at 17, the lower ends of opposite upright frame-arms 18, touwhich frame-arms is suitably secured at a point above the box 1 a motor-casing 19,

ICO

which accommodates therein the motor or operating mechanism Vfor controllingI the shutter-disk to give an. exposure of any predetermined number of seconds. The motor-easing itl has preferably mounted therein ordinary clock mechanism, the winding-shaft 2l of which is extended through the front side of the easing lt) and has dctachably fitted thereon a rotating trip-dial 22, said trip-dial being preferably secured in place on the front end of the winding-shaft 2l of the clock mechanism by mea-ns of the winding -key 22, which can be conveniently engaged at any time for the purpose of rewinding the spring of the clock mechanism when exhausted. 'lhe rotating trip-dial, actuated by the clock mechanism by reason of being carried on one of the shafts of such mechanism, is arranged to work within the dial-opening 23, formed in the front side of the motor-casing ll), and said trip-dial is further provided in Vits face and near the periphery thereof with a circular series or group of regulating-openings -l, which are consecutively numbered by numbers designating the number ot' seconds exposure which the particular openings are graduated for, and said openings 2i are designed to adjustably receive therein a shutter-closing trip-plug 25. At points spaced 'from the circular series or groups of openings f-.t the dial 2;) is further provided near its periphery with a single plug-opening 2G and a stop-opening 27,the opening JG being designed to removably receive therein a shutter-open.- .ing trip-plug 2S, which, withrcspect tothe operation of the closing-plug 25, travels in advance of the said latter plug. The single stop-opening 27 of the trip-dial is designed to be engaged by a stop-pin Il, mounted in the free end of a brake-arm 230, the other end of which is pivotally secured, as at Sl, to one of the frame-arms 1S at a suitable point, so as to allow the pin 2U to be disengaged from the dial and swung out of the path of movement el' the same when the mechanism is set in operation, while at the same time allowing the pin 2O to be readily engaged in the opening QT after an exposure to provide for stop- )ing the rotation of the dial while not in use, as will be readilyT understood.

livotally mounted on the front side of the circular sluitter-box l at the point 32 a bell-crank shutter-opening catch-lever 355, one end of which lever lil has arranged at one side thereof a spring 3lfor normally holding said end of the lever projected across the segmental slot T near one end of said slot, so as to engage at one side of the catch-pin 1l ot' the shutter-disk 9, when such catch-pin is moved to the end of the slot 7 near the lever '33, to provide for setting the shutter-disk ready for an exposure. The end of the lever ll opposite the spring-pressed end has connected thereto one end of a connecting link or wire 35, the other end of which link is' pivotally connected to one end or arm of a bellcrank trip-lever 3G, ad j ustabl y pivoted by one of its arms, as at 3T, to one ot' the upright frame-arms 1S adjacent tio the rotating trip-- dial. 22. One end of the pivotally-supported bell-crank trip-lever Sil provided with a curved trip-bill ESS, which projects within the plane of the dial-opening ll and lies in front of the said dial in the path of movement otthe plugs carried thereby, so that when the said bill. 3S is engaged against bythe plug d the lever 3G is moved in a direction t o oscillate the catch-lever m and discngage the 0L) same Vfrom the pin ll, thereby allowing the spring l5 to automatically rotate the disk ll and carry the said pin ll against one end ol` a shutter-closing catch-lever Si). lhc stop end of the lever 39 engaged by the pin Vl'l is normally projected over the slot T,at1 a point intermediate between the ends of such slots, to provide forholdingthedisk il in a position with its exposurc-opening lt) in alineinent with the shntter-openiugs i2 and the lens ot' the camera, so as to hold the shutter open sn'fiicientlylong to give the desired exposu re. The shutter-closing catch-lever 3f) is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends, as at ,i-O, at the `front side of the sluittcr-box ll, and has pivotally connected lo its outer end the lower one of a pair of toggle-levers-til the upper of which toggle-levers -fi-il is provided 'between its ends with a curved slot ft2, receiving a guide screw or pin -l-S, secured in oneot' the upright .frame-arms lS and providing for limiting the movement of the upper togglelever -Ltl to a sutticicnt degree to insure the rapid movement of the lever Btl when such lever disengages Vitsel f from the pin i.l.

The upper toggle-lever -lft .is pivotally connected atene end, as at -l-i, to one end of a shutter-closing trip-lever l5, pivotally supported between its ends, as at it, on one ot' the uprighis l5, and provided al: its end opposite the connection il with a trip-lull t7, curved so as to lie in the path of nn'ivinnent of the plugs carried by the trip-dial, and which when engaged by the plug 25 provides for quickly oscillating the lever lil in a direction to release the pin l'l and allow it to ily to the end of the slot opposite the lever 33, and in this rotation ot' the shutter-disk the exposure-opening is thrown out et' alinement with the openings 2 and the lens, so as to close the shutter. A retraetiile spring t* is arranged between and connects the tog4 glolevers -tl to provide for normallypositioning the levers .Jil and t5 after being oseillated in one direction bytheaction ofthetrip-plngi.

The motor-easing lil supports above the same a suitable alarm-bell or gong -l-Sl, at one side of which is arranged a hammer-earrying arm 50, normally drawn against the bellV by a ret-ractile springI 511, and said haminer-carrying arm is suitably connected with one end of an alarm trip-lcver The alarm triplever pivotally supported intermediate of its ends, as at 53, and is provided at the end opposite the connection of the arm 5t) therewith with a depending trip-foot 5l, lying ICO IlO

adjacent to and at one side of the trip-bill 58, and adapted to be engaged in advance of said bill by the trip-plug 28, so as to cause an alarm to be sounded immediately before the shutter is thrown open, which is a very important feature in photographing persons singly or in groups, the alarm serving to prompt the subject or subjects to pose at the proper moment.

From the foregoing it is thought that the operation of the herein-described shutter will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, but, again briefly referring to the operation, it is to be understood that the trip-plug 25 is adjusted to any of the openings 24, according to the number of seconds exposure required, and after a proper setting of both the plugs 25 and 2S, with the parts arranged as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, it will be noted that the pin 2S iirst engages the trip-foot 54, causing an alarm to be sounded by the bell, and then immediately engages against the tripbill 3S and operates the catch-lever 33, so as to release the shutter-disk and allow the same to fly to an open position with the pin 1l thereof engaging against the stop end of the catch-lever 30. After the shutter-disk is opened in this manner the plug 25, which has been previously adj usted as referred to, rides against the bill 47, and, through the medium of the connections described, releases the lever 39 from the pin 1l and allows the shutterdisk to rotate to its normal closed position. In rewinding the motor or mechanism both plugs 25 and 28 are removed, so as not to interfere with the operation of winding.

Changes in the forni, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacriiicing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an automatic shutter, a shutter-box having shutteropenings, a spring-actuated rotary shutter-disk working wit-hin the box and having an exposure-opening, separate catch devices for securing the shutter in a set and an open position, suitably-arranged time or clock mechanism having a continuouslymoving trip device, and suitabl y-arran ged lever connections between the trip device and said catch devices to provide means for automatically releasing the shutter from its set and open positions at predetermined intervals, substantially as set forth.

2. In 'an automatic shutter, a shutter-box. having shutter-openings, a spring-actuated rotary shutter-disk working within the box and having an exposure-opening and an offstanding catch-pin working through a slot in the box, separate catch devices for engaging said catch-pin to hold the shutter-disk in a set and an open position, time mechanism` having a rotating trip device, and suitable connections between said trip device and said catch devices for automatically releasing the shutter from its set and open positions at predetermined intervals, substantially as set forth.

3. In an automatic shutter, a shutter-box, a spring-actuated rotary shutter-disk working within the box and having an offstanding catch-pin working through a slot in the box, a motor-casing supported above the shutterboX, clock mechanism mounted within said casing, a rotating trip-dial mounted on one of the shafts of said mechanism and carrying trip-plugs, separate catch devices for engaging the catch-pin at different points, and suitably-arranged trip-levers adapted to be engaged by the trip-plugs of the dial and having operating connections with said catch devices, substantially as set forth.

4. In an automatic shutter, a shutter-box, a spring-actuated rotary shutter-disk having a catch-pin working through a segmental slot in the box, a motor-rotated trip-dial provided near its periphery with a circular series or group of regulating-openings and at a point spaced from said series or groups of openings with a single plug-opening, a trip-plug detachably fitted in said single plug-opening, a separate trip-plug adapted to adjustably engage said series of openings, separate catch devices for engaging said catch-pin at different points, and suitably-arranged trip-levers arranged in the path of said trip-plugs and connected with said catch devices, substantially as set forth.

5. In an automatic shutter, a shutter-box, a spring-actuated rotary shutter-disk having a rotary catch-pin working through a seg` mental slot in the box, a motor-rotated tripdial provided with suitably-arranged openings, spaced trip-plugs detachably fitted in openings in the dial, a catch-lever pivotally mounted on the shutter-box and having one end thereof normally projected over the segmental slot at one end, a separate catch-lever pivotally supported on the shutter-box and having one end projected over the segmental slot at an intermediate point between the ends of the slot, said catch-levers engaging said catch-pin to hold the shutter-disk respectively set and open, separate oppositely-arran ged trip-levers pivotally supported adjacent to the dial and provided at one end with trip-bills disposed in the path of movement of said trip-plugs, a suitable connection between one of said trip-levers and the catch-lever near one end of the segmental slot, and spring-retracted toggle-levers connecting the other trip-lever with the other catch-lever, substantially as set forth.

6. In an automatic shutter, a shutter-box, a spring-actuated rotary shutter-disk, a motor-rotated trip -dial carrying spaced tripplugs, separate catch devices for securing the shutter-disk in a set and an open position, suitably-mounted trip-levers arranged in the path of said trip-plugs and connected with said catch devices,an alarm-bell, an alarm trip- IOO IIO

lever carrying@ spring-retracted hzuumcr-mm :md provided :Lb one end with a trip-foot disposed adjacent to one @11d of 0110 of said other trip-levers n the path of movement of Said trip-plugs, :md a pivotal]y-Supported brakemm carrying' n` pin adapted to engage with the dial to Secure the same against rotalton, Substantially :1S sot 'fordr VERY L. XYIIJK'll-LSONL vimossesz D. 111 QJwrzAn'n, E. W. Ezrz'm. 

